Game



April 0, 1943. C.BIDERMAN 1 1 2,317,126

Filed March 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 20, 1943. C.,BIIDERMAN GAME Filed March 21'. 1941' 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME Carl Biderman, New York, N. Y. Application March 21, 1941, Serial No. 384,452

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an indoor game in the nature of hockey, and has for its principal object the provision of an attractive and novel game which is adapted particularly for indoor playing, the game requiring true skill on the part of the players. Another object of the invention is to provide a game which, though limited in size so as to conveniently fit within the average drawing room or game room, is nevertheless of such character as to appeal to persons skilled or interested in the game of hockey, as well as to others enjoying games generally.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simulated hockey game having other and additional features making the game more suitable for playing on a relatively small game board. To this end the game comprises an elongated, substantially oval-shaped playing board adapted to support one or a plurality of playing pieces, the board having improved goal members and also electrically actuated score-indicating devices positioned at points spaced over a good portion of the surface of the board. The game further provides means for limiting the movement of the sticks or other playing members in order to reduce the general hazards of the game, but at the same time to provide sufficient flexibility to make the game an interesting one.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved game of skill for use either in the home or in public amusement places, having a novel delivery mechanism for the playing member after the same has been placed in a goal by the player.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, a portion of the side wall being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a broken end elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a broken longitudinal vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a broken transverse vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a broken vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a broken. vertical section taken on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partially in section, of one of the movable playing members.

Fig. 10 is a broken'side elevation, partially in section, of one of the playing sticks.

section taken on line 'l'! Fig. 11 shows one preferred circuit including a relay.

Fig. 12 shows a modified form of contact arrangement in connection with the supplemental scoring system.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongated board I 3 forming the playing surface, such board having rounded end portions. The playing board is preferably formed from wood, or other suitable material, and a base board ll of equal size is positioned below playing board ill, the two boards being held in their spaced relationship by means of a vertical side member l2 extending completely around the marginal edges of both members. If desired, the structure may be further strengthened by providing a plurality of spaced vertical posts (not shown) between the two boards. The entire structure is mounted on a plurality of legs l5. each having a transverse base member I S through which a long bolt l'l passes, such bolt passing through an aperture [8 in base member H, a nut 19 being positioned at the upper end of the bolt.

For the purpose of ornamentation, a strip 23 of metal or other suitable material extends around the lower edge of side wall 12, and a second strip 25 extends around such side wall adjacent to member In. It will be noted that a portion 21 of side wall l2 extends above the upper or playing member ID, forming an annular flange, such portion 21 being reinforced by means of a strip of metal 28 extending around the periphery of playing board l0 and being of such height as to extend from the lower surface of board ID to the upper edge of portion 21. A metal strip 30 extends around the upper edge of extension 21, such strip having a horizontal, inwardly turned flange portion 3| which covers thev upper edges of members 21 and 28. If desired. strip 30 may be recessed, as shown at 33, and a strip 34 of any decorative material may be inserted within such recess. Strips 23., 25 and 3B are formed from stock material used generally in the construction of display cabinets and the like. It will be noted that strip'23 is formed with a recess similar to recess 33 and receives a strip of decorative material.

Guard rail 28 is of suilicient height to prevent the playing member from jumping off the board over the longitudinal edges during normal play. In order to prevent the playing member from leaving the board in the end zones, thev curved end walls 38 of playing board Iii are provided with an inwardly curved flange member 39 mounted on the upper edge of metal strip 30,

such flange member being secured in this position by means of a plurality of substantially T shaped supporting elements 40.

In view of the extreme rapidity of action during normal play of the game, the playing surface is preferably lighted by means of a light 42 positioned within a tubular guard 43 having a reflector 44, one of such lights being supported at each end of the playing board by means of a tubular supporting element 46 forming a pivoted connection at 41 with the guard 43 to permit adjustment of the latter. The movable playing member Ell is generally in the shape of a diminutive puck used in hockey, and is desirably made from plastic or other molded material. On its upper and lower surface it is provided with a metallic disc 5| for a purpose to be described hereinafter. In order to make the playing of the game relatively more silent, the member 59 is provided with an annular gasket 52 positioned in an annular recess formed in the periphery of the member.

The playing stick 54 is formed with a curved end portion 55, the stick desirably comprising a metal core 55 enclosed by tubing 51 of rubber or other resilient material. Since one player stands on each side of the board, the stick 54 must be of suificient length to enable the player to reach all parts of the opposite side of the board. Relative movement of the playing stick 54 is restricted and confined by means of a structure 60 comprising a horizontal tubular member or bar 6| which is supported at its ends in brackets 52, such brackets being mounted above the board IE) on bushings 53 having aligned rectangular apertures 64 in opposed walls thereof.

An important feature of the present invention consists in a guard rail 6! supported within such opposed apertures 64 in bushings 63, such guard rail being positioned inwardly from rail 28. At its opposite ends guard rail 61 is outwardly curved, as shown at 68, and terminates in engagement with rail 28, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. A singular advantage in the construction shown, whereby guard rail 51 and bar 6| are spaced inwardly from rail 28 along the edge of the board, is in the fact that aithough members 61 and 6| are the principal confining means for the stick, the forward end 55 cannot be moved too far from the board since it is restrained by bar GI and rail is from doing so. This causes the players to confine their playing to the board and not to th space above the board.

The length of bar 6! is a matter of choice, and although it may extend around substantially half the periphery of the playing board, it nevertheless is preferred to have it extend only the length of the main portion of the playing board, 1. e., hav it terminate at about the point where the rounded end portions 33 begin. This specific arrangement, shown clearly in Fig. l, is particularly novel since a direct shot at the goal from many points of the board is not practical, and a shot into the end zones brings member 50 around to a point Where it engages curved extension 68,

and thusplaces member 50 in position for an effective goal shot.

A goal structure '23 is positioned at a point spaced from each end of the playing board, such structure comprising a U shaped aperture 14 in the playing board, the curved portion of which is surrounded by a substantially U shaped guard rail 15, thus leaving one edge 16 of the aperture open. Mounted along this edge is a structure comprising three vertical posts 18, such posts being connected by means of a horizontal crosspiec 80. The posts 19 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit playing member 50 to pass therebetween, and on the upper edge of U shaped guard rail 15 a transparent covering plate 8| is positioned. There are thus formed two openings, through either of which playing member 50 may pass into goal 13. This arrangement gives the player a greater opportunity of making a goal than he would have if only one opening were provided, since it is obviously impossibl for the opposing player to guard both openings at the same instant. In the arrangement shown, if member 50 is hit too hard it will enter through one opening and come out of the other.

In order to provide additional light for the goal structures, the illuminating means shown in Fig. 6 is employed, such means comprising lights 84 mounted on brackets 85. When the playing member passes into aperture M, it moves downwardly onto an inclined guide chute 35 having apertures 86 at its upper end to permit lights 84 to illuminate the goals. Both lights may be illuminated at all times during play, or one light only may be illuminated and the other, preferably of a different color, illuminated only when a goal is made. In this instance a spring-pressed contact member 8| may be positioned within chute 85 (Fig. 6), and when member 50 rolls by the circuit is closed, such circuit including a relay, to be described hereinafter. The arrangement shown in Fig. 6', with the diagonally disposed side walls at the upper end of chute.85, is normally suitable for causing member 50 to properly fall into the chute and roll down. If desired, suitable baffles may also be provided to facilitate the guiding of the member.

One of such chutes 85 is provided for each goal 73, and the playing member which enters the goal thus passes downwardly to the center of the board where it is received on an apertured plunger 88 positioned within a vertical tube'BS, such plunger being carried on the end of an elongated lever 90 pivotally mounted at 9i on a bracket 92. The upper end of the plunger is flush with the upper surface of playing board 10 during play. Side wall I2 is formed with an opening 93 through which lever 90 passes, the lever having a handle 94 at its outer end. Vertical tube 89 communicates with a central aperture 98 formed in the playing board It, and thus when playing member 56 finally reaches one of the goals and passes downwardly through chute 85, it passes into the aperture in the plunger and is thereafter ejected from the vertical tube 89 by raising of the plunger 88, and is thus returned to the playing board through aperture 98. This unclosed aperture in the board will normally cause no interruption in the play. If desired, of course, the aperture can be kept normally closed by means of a hinged cover which opens by upward movement of member 59-.

A plurality of supplemental scoring members l M, shown in detail in Figs. 4 and "I, are provided on the playing board, such scoring members being adapted to be actuated by surface engagement with playing member 50. Each member is positioned within an aperture Hi2 having an enlarged portion )3 at its upper end which receives a disc I94 formed of transparent or translucent insulating material. Eachdiso is formed with a pair of spaced apertures I06 within which contact members I01 are supported, such contact members having curved upper ends which project slightly above the upper surface of discs I 04. Below each aperture I02 a housing I I is positioned, such housing enclosing a light HI and a pair of supports I I2 for contact members I01.

A preferred form of wiring circuit for use in connection with the supplemental scoring members is shown in Fig. 11 wherein a conventional relay H4 having a coil H5 and contact members H5 is employed. In order to open the circuit after a score has been registered, the circuit includes a conventional switch Ill. When metallic disc 5| on puck 50 engages both contact members I01 in disc I04, the circuit becomes closed, thus causing light I I l to become illuminated and the relay to close contacts H6. A pluraliity of the supplemental scoring members are provided, and in accordance with one suggested rule for playing of the game, the player must cause each of the separate circuits, including lights III, to become closed before he may try for the main goal, and if the puck should accidentally get into the main goal before he has completed all the circuits, either in predetermined order or otherwise, it will avail him nothing.

A modified form of supplemental scoring member is shown in Fig. 12, wherein disc I 00 may be eliminated entirely, and concentric contact members I and IZI, insulated from each other by a tube I22, are positioned within an aperture I23, both members 129 and IN extending slightly above board II].

If desired, the board may be marked with suitable lines defining playing areas, and the lights HI and 84 may be eliminated from the position shown and remounted on a separate score board. Also, posts or stop members 62 may be made longer and extend upwardly to a transparent covering for the game which may be desirable in the event that means are provided for permitting play only by the insertion of a coin, as, for example, an amusement device for use in public places. In this instance horizontal bar 60 may be eliminated entirely.

These are only a few of the modifications that may be made in connection with the foregoing invention and which will come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An elongated game board for a game employing a moving member and playing sticks therefor, said board having a goal opening in each end section spaced from the end of the board, a guard rail extending around the marginal edge of the playing board, a supplemental guard rail extending along but spaced from two opposed longitudinal edges of the board, the opposed terminals thereof being curved and extending outwardly to the edges of the board to provide means for guiding the moving member to the center of the board after it has been moved through an end section, and an elongated playing-stick confining bar positioned above the supplemental guard rail for permitting movement of such stick longitudinally of the board but restraining upward movement thereof.

2. An elongated game board for a game employing a moving member and playing sticks therefor, said board having curved end walls and having a goal opening in each end section spaced from the said curved end wall, a guard rail extending around the marginal edge of the playing board, a supplemental guard rail extending along but spaced from two opposed longitudinal edges of the board, a convexly curved portion at each end of said supplemental guard rail extending outwardly to the edges of the board to provide means for guiding the playing member to the center of the board after it has stricken the curved guard rail in an end section, and an elongated playing-stick confining bar mounted above the supplemental guard rail for permitting movement of such stick longitudinally of the board but restraining upward movement of the playing stick.

3. An elongated game board for a game employing a moving member and playing sticks therefor, said board having a goal opening in each end section spaced from the end of the board, a goal structure associated with each goal opening comprising a plurality of upright posts secured on the forward edge thereof in spaced relationship, and a curved wall extending along the rear edge thereof, a guard rail extending around the marginal edge of the playing board, a supplemental guard rail'extending along, but spaced from, two opposed longitudinal edges of the board, the opposed terminals thereof being curved and extending outwardly to the edges of the board to provide means for guiding the moving member to the center of the board after it has been moved through an end section, and an elongated playing-stick confining bar positioned above the supplemental guard rail for permitting movement of such stick longitudinally of the board but restraining upward movement thereof.

CARL BIDERMAN. 

